Container ejecting suction cleaner



Jan. 1, 1952 A. H. BEEDE 2,580,642

CONTAINE EJECTING SUCTION CLEANER Jan. 1, 1952 A H, BEEDE CONTAINEREJECTING SUCTION CLEANER 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed April l, 1946 I N V ENTOR.

ARNOLD H. BEEDE l? j T Patented Jan. l, 1952 CONTAINER EJECTING SUCTIONCLEANER Arnold H. Beede, Stamford, Conn., assignor to ElectroluxCorporation, Old Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Delaware iApplication April 1, 1946, Serial No. 658,641

` 22 claims. (o1. 18a- 37) This invention relates to vacuum cleaners andis particularly concerned with means for disposing of dust, dirt, andlike foreign matter which has been accumulated during cleaningoperations. The present invention is Valso concerned with automaticcontrol means responsive to certain Voperatingr characteristics of thedevice.

While certain aspects of the present inventive concept may rbe broadlyapplicable to a wide variety of types of vacuum cleaners, the inventionis more particularly concerned with tank type vacuum cleaners in which arelatively stationary casing housing a motor-fan unit and a removabledust collecting bag is provided with an intake opening to which asuction hose is applied. In such tank type cleaners it has been proposedto provide mechanism responsive to an increase in the pressure drop ofthe air passing through the dust collecting bag `for automaticallyejecting the bag, or at least making it easily accessible for manualremoval. Certain diiiiculties obtain, however, where such mechanisms areused, `these diiculties arising from the necessity of `displacing theend cover of the machine to which the suction hose is connected. Thehose is relativeli7 heavy and somewhat rigid and consequently impedesthe opening movement of the cover relative to the casing. If the coveris not completely or substantially completely open at the time automaticejection or manual removal of the dust bag is eiiected, jamming andpossible rupture of the bag (where a porous paper bag is used) may lWellresult.

It is accordingly among the objects of this invention to provide animproved vacuum cleaner which obviates the foregoing difficulties in athoroughly practical andI eflicient manner.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be apparentfrom theconsideration of the following specification when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly `broken away of one embodiment of thepresent invention; and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device inbag ejecting position.

ln general terms, the structure of the present :to the reartherethrough. As distinct from cleaners of this general type which arepresently in use and in whichthe4 body is rigidly secured to integralbase'or sleighs, the body ofthe presend device is pivotally mounted upona base so Y that it may move with pivotal relation thereto to anupwardly inclined position. A hinged cover is mounted on the front ofthe machine through which an intake opening extends and to which a hoseconnection is pivotally mounted.. The arrangement is such that when thebody is tilted with respect to the base the cover is pivotally movedwith respect to the body and the hose connection is pivotally moved withrespect to the cover, thus permitting the movements to be accomplishedwith a minimum of hose displacement. Within the body there is provided adust bag ejecting plate which is normally in retracted position when thebody is in horizontal position and which is releasable to forcibly ejectthe dust bag when the .body is tilted and the cover opened.

An important i'eature of the invention is the provision of means to'co-relate the tilting action of the body, the opening of the cover, andthe ejection of the bag so as to provide for a uniform cycle of suchoperations.

Through provision of the pivotable body or casing, not only is automaticejection of the bag facilitated, but also the bag is made more readilyaccessible where manual removal thereof is desired. Furthermore, bypivotally relating the cover to the casing, and by pivoting the hoseconnection to the cover, complete or substantially complete opening ofthe cover is assured thus precluding jamming and possible rupture of thebag, all as will be described in detail hereinbelow.

Referring specifically to the drawings which depict one preferredembodiment of the inventive concept, the numeral lil designates a basepreferable of generally rectangular conguration in horizontalcross-section. The base is shown as supported in slightly spacedrelation to the door by sleighs Il. rthe base may enclose a cord reel I2through which current is supplied to the motor and forwardly of the reelI2, the base isI provided with a space for the reception of a supply oidisposable dust receiving receptacles as indicated at I3. The body ofthe cleaner comprises a casing I4, the rear end of which is closed by anend member I5 which is pivotally supported on the base by a transverselyextending pin .is and is provided with a suitable air discharge: portIl. i Within the casing I4 thereis provided the usual motor-fan unitindicated by the numeral It, forwardly of which there is provided aperforated bulkhead I9. The front of the casing is provided with a cover20 which is pivotally mounted as at 2I to a depending portion 22 of thecasing and the cover 20 is provided with a hose receiving coupling 23which is pivotally mountedto the cover as at 24. This arrangement issuch that the casing may pivotally move with respect to the base and thecover may swing open on its pivot 2I, while permitting the suction hose25 to retain its normal horizontal position. For pivotally moving thecasing with respect to the base I5,there is provided an actuating arm 25which is biased to the raised posi-tion shown in Fig. 2 by an actuatorspring 21, the arm 25 being pivoted as at 28 to the base Ill. Theopposite end of thelarm 25 is provided with a roller 29 which is mountedwithin a depending guide member 35 attached to the lower side of thecasing i4, the arrangement being such that when the casing is released,kupward outward movement of the roller 29 will thrust the, casingupwardly ior pivotal movement aboutthe pin I5, the extent of themovement being limited byabut# ment of the roller 29 against the forwardend of the guide member 39, Y n

For actuating theA cover sothat it will be opened and closed in timedsequence with pivotal move ment of the casing, there is p rovideda coveractuv ating link SI which is pivotaliy secured at the rearward end tothe actuator Y,and likewise pivotally secured at its forward end as at32 to a bracket 33 mounted upon the cover 2i?. Thus as the roller 2S;renovesiorwardly in the guide member to raise the casing I4, the arm 3iwill move rectilinear/fly substantial parallelism with the axis of thecasing I4 to thrust the cover open by pivotal movement about its pivotpoint 2i. Similarly when the casing is depressed against the tension of,the Splllg 21., the roller 29 will move rearwardlyudrawing back the karm3l, thus pivotally movingl the cover to closed position. It will benoted that during opening motion the inertia of the hose 25 will causethe coupling 23 to pivot about the point24, withdrawing it from itsspring retaining element 34 so that the i movements of the casing andcover may be free from obstruction by the weight and inertia of the hose25. e Y

The air ltering and dust receiving device preferably used in the presentconstruction is of the type shownin the copending application ofLeoznl?. Borkoski, Serial No. 641%992 ledJanuary 18, 1946. The body 35 of thebag is preferably made fromY inexpensive porous material such as paper,so that the bag may be disposed of wheneverfilled withV dust withoutprohibitive expense. The front edges 35 ofV the body of the bag aresecured between inner and outer end members 31 and 38 respectively, bothof which arer apertured to receive therethrough the air inlet tube 39 ofthe cover 20. A pair of normally overlapping rubber closure members 4I)are stretched across the apertures of the end membersthe arrangementbeing such that when the tube is inserted through the apertures therubber closure members are separated and engage the tube to seal the bagthereto and to retain the bag thereon during cleaning operations. Whenthe cover is opened, however, the inletl tube 39 will automaticallyrelease itself from the receptacle so that the latter may be.l

subsequently discharged. e

In the normal operating position of the receptacle its rear wall 4I willbe drawn against an ejecting p late 42 which is retained in spacedrelation to the bulkhead I9 by yieldable springs 43. As dirt collects inthe receptacle, the .resistance to air flow therethrough. and hence thepressure drop, increases,v thus decreasing the eiliciency of thecleaning action, and Aincreasing the force exertedby; the receptacle;against theVA plate 42. As the plate moves rearwardly against' 4 theresistance of springs 43 it will strike an actuator 44 associated with aswitch 45 by which circuits hereinafter to be described are energizedfor releasing the casing and ejecting the dust receptacle.

For ejecting movement of the plate 42 there is provided a plurality oi'arms 46 which are pivotally secured to a central bracket 4'1 carried bythe plate 42. The opposite end of the arms 46 are pivotally secured tolinks 48 which are pivotally secured to the casing I4. This arrangementis such that the arms and links form actuating toggles which are 'biasedin the direction of forward movementof the plate by spring 49. Duringthe working 'cycle ci the device, the plate is secured in its innermostposition, with the springs 43 abutting the bulkhead, by means of a catch50 which engages the bracket 41 to retain the plate against the force ofthe springs 49. 'Ihe catch is provided with an actuating arm 5I whichupon energization of .a solenoid 52 is adapted to release the catch fromthe plate, thus permitting the springs to move the toggle, thrusting theplate forwardly within the casing to forcibly eject the dustreceptacle.

For securing the casing in its horizontal operative Lposition there isprovided a keeper bolt 53 which is normally biased in a forwarddirection to extend through an 'aperture 54 in the base I0 and to engagea keeper 55 formed in the vcover noid 55, the bolt willv be retracted topermit the spring -21 to raise the casing andY to open the cover 20.

Since the wiring of the circuit for the device maybe of variouscharacteristicsV in accordance with `the specific arrangement elected bydesigners, no speciiic diagram is thought required. It will belinde'rstood,l however, that solenoids 52 and 55 arev both under thecontrol of the automatically actu'atedswitch 45. A manually operableswitch 69 fisalso preferably provided so that theA casing may be raisedindependently of the switch 45 where 'manual removal rather thanautomatic Yejection (of Athe bag is desired. However, itwillbe no tedthat the circuit includes a time delay devicel 51 which may beconveniently mounted on the bulkhead I9, the arrangement being such thatupon the closing of the switch 45 the solenoid 56 will rst be operatedto raise the casing and open the front cover. The solenoid 52, however,is energized through the delay device 51 sothat the ejeci'fllg`mechanism will not be released until such time as the casing `is fullyraise iandr the cover opened to permit free ejectionof the dust;receptacle.

From the oresoing it will bey seen that the present invention providesa. novel, simple, and compactunit from which a loaded dust receptaclewill be automatically ejected when such receptacle has acquired asuilicient load of accumulated dirt. It` will be understood, of course,that the invention is not limited to the specific structural detailsherein setforth and that numerous changesrmodiiications and full useofequivalents .mar be. resortedtq without; .departure .from .the .spiri....rifsppe; oifthe; mentionne outlined: ,in the appended claims.

What I claim is: V 1. In a vacuum cleaner, a base portion, a casingltiltably mounted on said base portion, a dust relarms being attached tosaid plate, and spring means biasing said arms towards receptacleejected position of said arms.

3. In a dust receptacle ejecting device for a vacuum cleaner, anejecting plate and an actuating means therefor comprising a plurality ofpairs of pivotally joined arms, one end of one arm of each pair beingattached to said plate, and spring means biasing said arms towardsreceptacle ejected position of said arms.

4. In a dust receptacle ejecting device for a vacuum cleaner casing, anejecting plate and an actuating means therefor comprising a plurality ofequally spaced pairs of pivotally joined arms, one end of one arm ofeach pair being attached to said casing and the other arm of each pairbeing attached to said plate, and spring means biasing said arms towardsreceptacle ejected position of said arms.

5. In a vacuum cleaner having a pivotally mounted cover, a hoseconnector for said cover,

and means to pivotally mount said connector on said cover, said pivotalmounting of said connector being parallel to the pivotal mounting ofsaid cover, and providing for opposite pivotal movements of said coverand connector.

6. In a vacuum cleaner having a relatively stationary iioor supportedbase, a casing pivotally mounted on said base, means for tiltingiymoving said casing with respect to at least one portion of said base, acover for said casing, and means operable by the first mentioned meansfor moving said cover with respect to said casing by and with thetilting of said casing. '7. In a vacuum cleaner, a supporting baseportion, a casing pivotally mounted on said base portion, said casinghaving an opening and being adapted to receive a dust receptacle, acover for I,said opening movably mounted with respect to said casing,means for pivoting said casing with respect to said base portion, meansoperable by the first mentioned means for moving said cover with respectto said casing to open said opening upon the pivoting` of said casing,and means operative upon the pivoting of said casing and the moving ofsaid cover for displacing said receptacle outwardly through saidopening.

8. In a vacuum cleaner, a supporting base portion, a casing pivotallymounted adjacent to one end thereof on said base portion, a dustseparating member in said casing, a motor fan unit in said casingadjacent to said one end for producing ilow of air through said member,a cover for the opposite end of said casing, means operable to pivotsaid casing, means responsive to an increase in pressure drop of airowing through said member to effect operation of said operable means forpivoting said casing with respect to said base, and means operable bysaid operable means for moving said cover with respect to said casingupon the pivoting of said casing.

9. In a vacuum cleaner, a supporting base por- Magere loperable by saidoperable means for moving said cover with'respect to said casing to opensaid opening upon the pivoting of said casing, and means operative uponthe pivoting of said casing and the moving of said cover for displacingsaid dust separating member outwardly through said opening.A

10. In a vacuum cleaner, a supporting base portion, a casing pivotallymounted on said base portion and having an opening, a dust separatingmember in said casing, means for producing flow of air through saidmember, a cover for said opening pivotally mounted on said casing, a

member movable through at least a portion of said compartment forcontacting said receptacle to displace the latter through said opening,means responsive to 'an increase in pressure drop of air iiowing throughsaid member for pivoting said casing with 'respect to said base portionand for moving said memberto displace said receptacle, and meansoperable vby the llast mentioned means for pivoting'zsaid cover withrespect to said casing upon pivoting of said casing.

11`. I n a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening for the insertionand removal therethrough of a dust receptacle, a member pivotally`mounted with respect to said casing for retaining the receptacle withinthe casing, and a hose connector pivotally mounted on said member aboutan Aaxis substantially parallel to the axis about which said member ispivotally mounted, said member being pivotal in a given direction torelease said receptacle and said hose connector being simultaneouslypivotal in the opposite direction.

' 12. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an opening for the insertionand removal therethrough oi a dust receptacle, a memberfor retainingVthe receptacle Within the casing, means for pivotally mounting saidmember with respect to said casing about a substantially horizontal axisdisposed below said opening, and a hose ,connector pivotally mounted onsaid member about an axis substantially parallel to the first mentioned.axis, the pivotal axis of said hose connector being so located that whensaid member pivots in one angular direction said hose connector'piyotsin the opposite angular direction.

13. A vacuum cleaner comprising a casing having an opening in a wallthereof for the insertion therethrough of a dust bag, a member hingedlyattached tosaid casing for movement `from a` position retaining saiddust bag within member. and means providing communication between'saidhose coupling and the interior of ,.70

said dust bag.

114. A 'vacuumA cleaner comprising a base, a hollow casing having anopening in a wall thereof pivotally mounted on said base for movementabout an axis spaced from the opening of said casing, a cover pivotallymounted on said casing iformovement about an 'axis adjacerta'n ledge ofy tion of a dust bag, ahosecouplin'g carrying member, means 'forming apivotal connectionbetween said casing andrsaid hose coupling carryingmeinber whereby sald Vmember may lp'ivo't 'between openfand closedpositions'relative'ito .said casing opening, a hose coupling, and meansforming a pivotal connection between said hose coupling and said hosecoupling carrying member, the axes of both of said pivotalconnectionsbeing parallel whereby when said inemberpivotsin one angulardirectionrelative to said opening said hose cou pling pivots in theopposite angular direction.

16. A vacuum cleaner .including a casing having an opening in a wallthereof 'for 4the reception of a dust bag, a hose coupling carryingmember., means forming apivotal connection between said casing and saidhose coupling carrying-member whereby said vmember vmay .pivot betweenopen and closedpos'itions relativelto said casing opening, a hosecoupling, means forming a pivotal connection between said hose couplingand said v'hose coupling carrying member., whereby when vsaid memberpivots in one angular direction relative to said opening said hosecoupling, pivots in the opposite angular directiongand means effectiveafter opening pivotal movement oi`- saidmem- 17.. A vacuum cleanerincluding a casing 'have ing an opening in a `Wall thereoffor'thereception of a dust bag, a hose coupling carrying member,

means forming a pivotal connection betweensaid ,n

casing and said hose coupling carrying member whereby said member maypivot between open and closed positions relative to said casing opening,a hose couplingmeans forming a pivotal connection between saidhose-coupling and said Y hose coupling carrying memberywhereby when saidmember pivots'in one angular directionrrelaltive to said opening saidhose coupling..pivots in the opposite angular direction, means effectiveVafter opening pivotal movement of said member to eject a dust bagoutwardly of said casing. and means responsive' toan increaseinthepiessure drop through a dust bag in 'saidcasing' toelect operation'of said dust 'bag ej'ectin'g'means.'

18. A vacuum cleaner including la Vcasing'having an opening in awall'thereof for the insertion therethrough of a dust bag, a dust 'beginsaid casing having aself-sealing opening in the dust receiving endthereof, a'member'pivotally related to said casngadjacent theopenin'g'therein "and f movable between-open `'and closed positions:relative -to saidopening a second member pvotally attached Vto said rstmember and movable there with but -in opposite angular infection--during the opening or closing movement of said first member, and meansfformin'gla hoseA coupling. on.' one of said members -engageable insealing relation yber to eject a dust 4bag outwardly lof saidcasing.

8 l with said self-sealing opening when "said inrst "member'is moved "toitsclos'ed position.

v"19. A 'vacuum cleaner `including vfi-casing inav- Aing 'an openin'gfin'awall "th'er'eof :for `the'insertion therethrough o'f a dust bag, adust bag in 'said casing having a self-sealing opening 'inthe/dust`receiving "end thereof, a member pivotallyrelated :toi-said casingadjaceritthefopenng therein and movable between open and closedvpositionsrelavhtive to "said opening, as'econd 'member kpiv'otallyattached to saidrst 'memberiiand'inovable'therewith but oppositeangulardirection dining the fopening'or 'closing vmovement of lsaidvilr`s`t."m`em ther, means forming a nose"mapling-onl one of saidmemberseiigage'able in sealing-relation with said self-sealing opening'whensaid 'inst-.member isfmoved to itsclos'e'dposition,fandme'ansoperable' after opening movementrof saidfirst-'member if or 'ej ec'ting 4said-bag: outwardly of saidl easing.

20. A`v`acum cleaner havin'g'abase,"abasing, fmeans" forming va pivotalconnection 'between'sai'd I`baisea'nd said'casing, a ldust bag insaidcasingg'a motor fan unit in said casing, `meansassociated vv'withsaidb'ase and said casin'g'operable to pivot saidA casing' awayfromfsaid base, andV means relfsponsiveto an increase inpressure'dropfthrough said' bag to effect operation *of saidcas-in'gpivo'ting means.

21. A vacuum Vcleaner `rhavingaL'oase, afcasng, vn'ieans 'forming arpivotal connectionbetweenesaid 'base andisaid casing, :a dust bag `insa-idfcasin'g, ia

motor fan unit in said casing, means'-'assoc-iated with sajidfbase andsaidcasing voperable to pivot said casing away from '-said `base, saidcasing vpivoting means vincluding 'a spring, a latch A'for'"res-training'said spring from' pivoting saidca'Sing, and fmeansresponsive `to an I increase' in pressure -iiroplthrough said bagtorelease said latchwhe'reby said spring may 'pivot said-easing.

'522. A vacuum cleaner including-ia casing having-jan! opening in `vawall 'thereof forlitheinsertion therethrough of a dust'fbag, a'dustba'ginsaidnasl ing havinga self-'sealing Vopening vin the du'stre-Sc'ei'v-ing end thereoa'member pivotally related to said gcasi-ngadjacent vthe opening -thereinsand 'movablefloetween open-- and'lclosedpositionerentive to saidopeningasecond member Spivotally attached tosaidrrst memberland 'movable ythere 'with but' in opposite `angulardirectionl duringthe Lopening orclosing movementof vsaidliirst.:mem-

Vber, means forming a` hose coupling on one ofsaid members engageablein' sealingrelation -with -sai'd self-sealing opening'when -saidfirst`member is moved toits closed position, means 'operableafter openingmovement of 'said rstmember vfor eject-- `ing said bag outwardly of saidcasing, 'and' means v.responsive -to an increase in pressure l"drop'through said bag to eiiect opening'movement o f `saidrst member vandoperationof said operable means.

*ARNOLD 1'I-I. BEEDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references arev of recordin'the.

iile of this patent:

